Mubarak endorses issuing election amendment to constitution

Published May 27th, 2005 - 18:19 GMT

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has endorsed issuing an amendment to the article 76 of the constitution after Wednesday referendum, it was reported F

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has endorsed issuing an amendment to the article 76 of the constitution after Wednesday referendum, the official MENA news agency reported Friday. Over 82 percent of Egyptian voters backed the key consitutional amendment in the referendum with a turnout of 53 percent, Interior Minister Habib Ibrahim el-Adli was quoted as saying.

El-Adly, in a statement to journalists said that 82.86% of voters were in favour of the amendment and that 17.14% were against. The Minister said that the total number of voters called upon to cast their votes was just over 32 million and the number of those who cast their votes was over 17 million.

The amendment allows multi-candidates to participate in the presidential elections for the first time in Egypt's history.